USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1939 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
1,588.72
Commitment December 18, 1939
6.00
Commitment December 18, 1939
119.25
Commitment December 18, 1939
84.80
Commitment December 30, 1939
1,679.34
Commitment December 30, 1939
83.84
Commitment December 30, 1939
34.51
$1,331,212.34
Divided as follows:
Real Estate
$983,548.12
Personal Estate
273,659.16
Motor Vehicle Excise
48,844.54
Polls
15,716.00
Moth
1,126.17
Water Liens
8,318.35
$1,331,212.34
STATE LIABILITIES
State Tax
$194,130.00
Abatement of Smoke Nuisance
525.24
Auditing Municipal Accounts
972.81
Charles River Basin Loan Fund, etc.
5,442.40
Met. Parks Loan Sinking Fund, etc
17,771.43
Met. Planning Division
279.42
Acts of 1923, Chap. 399
Met. Parks Loan Sinking Fund, Series 2, etc.
2,229.57
Met Parks Loan Fund, Nantasket, Maintenance
1,446.19
Wellington Bridge, Maintenance
44.10
Met Sewerage Loan Sinking Fund, etc., South System
34,011.87
Hospital or Home Care for Civil War Veterans
17.50
Acts of 1929. Chap. 340
Metropolitan Sewerage Special, South
18,243.42
West Roxbury - Brookline Parkway
.35
$ 275,114.30
Deficits due to abatements in excess of overlay of prior years :
Of year 1931
$ 194.00
Of year 1932
264.00
Of year 1933
286.00
Of year 1934
5.00
Of year 1935
203.79
Of year 1936
51.00
Of year 1937
2,927.27
$3,931.16
Final Court judgments
779.90
Moth
1,126.17
Water Liens
4,122.98
$ 9,960.21
285,074.51
COUNTY LIABILITIES
County Tax
$ 45,102.38
113
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Income Tax
$ 108,173.46
Corporation Taxes
20,458.42
Motor Vehicle Excise
46,481.53
Licenses
8,904.50
Fines
331.43
Grants and Gifts
16,568.09
Moth
1,309.70
Protection of Persons and Property
367.552
Health and Sanitation
2,664.80
Charities
49,086.60
Old Age Assistance
80,010.17
Soldiers' Benefits
1,246.00
Schools
10,005.29 .
Libraries
780.25
Public Service Enterprises
104,281.00
Gasoline Tax Refund
65,177.97
Interest on Deposits
9,255.65
Miscellaneous
1,786.17
Veterans' Exemptions
29.00
Alewife Fisheries
202.30
Overestimates of the year 1938
5,553.93
Surplus
93,500.00
$626,173.87
SUMMARY - 1939 ACCOUNTS
Appropriations :
Town Meeting - October 14, 1938 $
33,500.00
Town Meeting - March 6, 1939
1,525,743.36
State Liabilities
210,358.94
County Tax
45,102.38
Overlay Deficits of the years 1931 to 1937 incl.
3,931.16
Judgments
779.90
Underestimates of the year 1938
64,755.36
$1,884,171.10
Overlay of the year 1939
14,474.00
$1,898,645.10
CREDITS
Estimated Receipts 626,173.87
$1,272,471.23
VALUATION OF THE TOWN OF WEYMOUTH
Tax Rate for the year 1939: Real and Personal Estate
$26.50
Motor Vehicle Excise
35.90
Valuation for the year 1939 :
Real and Personal Estate
$47,441,396.00
Motor Vehicle Estate
1,682,790.00
Number of Polls Assessed :
5,262
March 15, 1939
April 15, 1939
2,423
114
Judy 1, 1939
September 20, 1939 November 1, 1939 December 18, 1939
49
95
26
3
Total Number of Polls Assessed
7,858
Number of Autos Assessed :
April 1, 1939
2,236
June 1, 1939
3,359
July 1, 1939
941
August 1, 1939
334
October 2, 1939
353
December 1, 1939
471
December 30, 1939
427
December 30, 1939
36
December 30, 1939
17
Total Number of Autos Assessed
8,174
Number of Polls exempted by law or otherwise
1,024
Number of Persons assessed on property
8,800
Number of Horses assessed
58
Number of Cows assessed
337
Number of Sheep assessed
37
Number of Swine assessed
5
Number of other Cattle assessed
435
Nuhber of Fowl assessed
14,270
Number of Dwelling Houses assessed
6,520
Number of Acres of Land assessed ·
8,8081/2
Number of Fowl assessed
14,270
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES W. BURGESS, Chairman
HARRY E. BEARCE, Clerk
FRANK A. PRAY
FRANCIS A. GUNN
JOHN W. HEFFERNAN
Board of Assessors of Weymouth
REPORT OF THE SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report for the year 1939. The sealing fees amounting to $355.11.
There were six convictions made during the year; three for peddling without a license, all found guilty and paid fines; one collecting junk without a license, case was placed on file; one for using an unsealed scale, found guilty and placed on file, and one for giving of insufficient weight was found guilty.
My general work for the year is as follows: Tested and sealed 3397 weighing and measuring devices Not sealed 87 weighing and measuring devices Condemned 15 weighing and measuring devices
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES W. BURGESS, Sealer of Weights and Measures
115
I
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
GUSSET !622
LABORARE
VINCERE
MASSACHUSETTS
·1635.
WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
1939
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
PRINCE H. TIRRELL, Chairman MRS. ARTHUR R. TAYLOR, Secretary
J. HERBERT LIBBY, M.D. 707 Broad Street, East Weymouth
Term expires April 1, 1940 Weymouth 0216
Term expires April 1, 1940
WALLACE H. DRAKE, M.D. Term expires April 1, 1941 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth Weymouth 0450
MRS. ARTHUR R. TAYLOR Term expires April 1, 1941
44 Tower Avenue, South Weymouth Weymouth 2354
CLAYTON W. NASH Term expires April 1, 1942
19 West Street, South Weymouth Weymouth 0740
PRINCE H. TIRRELL 167 Pleasant Street, South Weymouth
Term expires April 1. 1042 Weymouth 2175-M
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
PARKER T. PEARSON
24 King Oak Terrace, East Weymouth
Weymouth 1617
OFFICE
Weymouth High School, East Weymouth Office Hours
Weymouth 1460
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
HELEN G. TONRY, Secretary
79 Chard Street, East Weymouth
Weymouth 0966
MYRTLE L. RICE, Assistant Secretary 79 Front Street, Weymouth
Weymouth 1534-M
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1939 - 40
FALL TERM: Opens September 6-Closes December 22
WINTER TERM: Opens January 2-Closes February 16 Opens February 26-Closes April 18
SPRING TERM: Opens April 29-Closes June 20 HOLIDAYS: Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and day following, Good Friday, Memorial Day
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
2-2-2
2-2-2
The signal will be given at 7:30 a.m. when transportation to school by bus is impossible.
118
WILLIAM F. SHIELDS 41 Glendale Street, Weymouth
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meetings of the Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the High School Building at 8 p.m.
Entrance Age
No child shall be admitted to school in September unless he has reached the age of five years on or before the first day of April preceding. Children entering for the first time will be admitted only during the first two weeks of school.
Birth Certificates
A birth certificate is required for entrance to the first grade.
Vaccination
No child shall be allowed to enter the first grade without a cer- tificate of successful vaccination.
Quotation from State Law, Chapter 76, Section 15: “An un- vaccinated child shall not be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a certificate like the physician's certificate required by Section 182 of Chapter 3."
Employment Certificates
No child between the ages of fourteen and sixteen shall be allowed to leave school until a signed promise of employment card has been presented to the principal of the building in which he is attending school. Employment certificates and educational certifi- cates are issued at the office of the Superintendent of Schools in the High School building from 9 to 10 a.m. every week day except Saturday.
119
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth :
The School Committee herewith submits its report for the year 1939, together with the thirty-first annual report of Mr. Parker T. Pearson, Superintendent of Schools, and reports to him from the · sev- eral departments, all of which are made a part hereof.
The resignation of our Superintendent, made to take effect on January 1, 1940, and regretfully accepted by the Committee, has marked the termination of an official connection unique in the annals of our town. Under a single direction during the past thirty vears a better and greater school system has been erected upon old but firm foundations. A young, vigorous, level-headed gentleman and scholar came to us in Mav, 1909, to assume direction of an undistinguished department. Our town entered into a period of steady, but healthy, growth. He expected, and received, for his department the encour- agement and support from his fellow townsmen that the changing conditions required. The loyal co-operation, through thirty years, of townsmen and parents, teachers and principals, committees and sup- erintendent, have made our schools better schools, and our town a better town. A good school system is a cornerstone of a better town. That we have, and that we shall keep. Let us hope and expect that many future reports of School Committees addressed to the Citizens of Weymouth will in part be addressed to Parker T. Pearson, Citi- zen of Weymouth, and one of us.
Our new Superintendent, Mr. Charles R. Thibadeau, comes to from a similar position in Newburyport, where for five years he
us successfully directed the schools, following a like position in Marion. Previously, his teaching experience has been extensive. He is a grad- uate of Bates College, in Maine, with a Master's degree in Educa- tion from Harvard. He has further studied at Boston University. There was a large number of worthy and competent candidates to fill our superintendency vacancy. From such a group he was chosen. The Committee believes that Mr. Thibadeau has the experience, ability, and other qualities needed for the successful direction and improve- ment of our schools. He is young enough so that the Town may expect from him an effective continuity of service. He also will receive the support and co-operation of all those who come to know him.
We are glad to announce that the construction of the addition to the Edward B. Nevin School is nearly completed. This work, under the law, has been done under the direction of the Board of Select- men, since no particular committee or other agency was designated to carry out the vote of the last annual town meeting which made the appropriation. The Board of Selectmen tactfully, and we believe wisely, chose to constitute the existing Building Committee, created under a vote at the annual meeting of 1938, the agents of the Board to carry out the details of an undertaking with which the Board were
120
then not familiar. The relations of Board and Building Committee have been founded on mutual confidence and respect. Before this report is in print, public use of the new auditorium at the Nevin School will have been made. The land on Nevin Road recently acquired will make a useful enlargement of the school grounds.
Upon request, the Committee offers for the Annual Warrant an article designed to authorize the use of income from the John B. Rhines Fund toward the purchase of materials for the enlargement of permanent seats at Legion Memorial Field; and also an article for an appropriation for sanitary improvements at the Old Pratt School. Both articles deserve careful consideration.
Herewith follow our estimates of expenses for the coming year, with comparative figures for the year last past :
Expenditures
Estimates
Salary of Superintendent
$ 6,500.00
$ 4,800.00
Other General Salaries
3,513.50
3,550.00
Other General Expense
1,400.8 1
1,500.00
Teachers' Salaries
283,243.56
293,372.75
Textbooks and Supplies
16,286.53
15,000.00
Transportation
17,550.00
17,700.00
Support of Truants
300.00
Tuition
567.46
600.00
Janitors
29,338.19
29,300.00
Fuel
9,808.42
10,250.00
Light & Power
4,639.04
4,500.00
Maintenance
27,901.51
25,000.00
Other Expense
958.53
1,200.00
Day Household Arts
5,727.67
6,200.00
Day Industrial
28,799.39
30,000.00
Total Expenditures
$436,234.61
Total Estimates
$ 443,272.73
Respectfully submitted,
PRINCE H. TIRRELL, Chairman
ETHEL G. TAYLOR, Secretary (Mrs. Arthur R.)
WALLACE H. DRAKE, M.D.
J. HERBERT LIBBY, M.D.
CLAYTON W. NASH
WILLIAM F. SHIELDS
1939
1940
121
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Members of the School Committee:
I herewith submit my thirty-first report, the same being the fifty-fourth in the series of annual reports of superintendents of this town. Separate reports received from the special teachers are ap- pended, and should be given due attention.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. Addition to Edward B. Nevin School, 4 rooms and gymna- nasium, nearly completed
2. Lot of land in rear of Edward B. Nevin School purchased for playground purposes
Note :- According to agreement, this is not to be used unless fences are erected.
3. Study room on third floor of old High School building equipped with 70 new desks to provide additional seating capacity
4. Extra drawing room provided and equipped in the main building for pupils of the Vocational School
5. Additional teacher employed for sheet metal work
6. Chain link fences erected at James Humphrey, Hunt, and Bicknell Schools
7. Plan of Bicknell School grounds revised, with provisions made for full sized baseball field, 7 tennis courts, skating rink, and area for summer play equipment
Note :- The work is nearly completed.
8. Extensive repairs to Jefferson School, occasioned by fire damage, together with major improvements to the building
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Continued co-operation with the W.P.A. Department :-
a. To improve school grounds, paint buildings, and perform such other tasks as are not contemplated in the budget
b. Erection of grandstand on Legion Memorial Field, as suggested in last year's report
c. Grading and fencing the Edward B. Nevin School grounds
d. Completion of retaining wall at Pratt School
2. New toilets at Old Pratt School
Note :- An article is in the Town Warrant covering this item.
1
122
3. Extension of shop work to provide for increasing demand for trade instruction
New courses in welding, machine shop work, interior decorating, plumbing, and baking for boys are sugges- tions.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
1. There are no illiterate minors of record in this town.
2. Twenty-six truancy cases from an aggregate attendance of 806,781.5. Cost of truancy to the town-$13.50
3. Per cent of attendance :- 93.52
4. There continue to be no pupils in state schools organized for correction of truancy or school delinquency.
5. Cost of education per pupil in average membership :
WEYMOUTH
STATE
1938 $88.45
1938 $100.41
1939 86.44
1939
102.07
6. Increase in school population in 5 years :
As of the close of school in June:
High
Elementary
Total
1935
1,401
3,419
4,820
1936
1,397
3,353
4,750
1937
1,533
3,300
4,833
1938
1,576
3,235
4,811
1939
1,621
3,252
4,873
As of December
22, 1939:
High
Elementary
Total
1,647
3,189
4,836
7. Forty-six of last year's High School graduates known to be continuing their education
8. High ranks are being obtained in many institutions of higher learning by graduates. Several in Massachusetts Institute of Technology are on the Dean's List; and one, in the upper 2% of his class
9. No pupil certified for college for over twenty-five years re- ported as failing
10. Musical Conclave of Mayflower Festival Association for 1939 held at High School on May 9
11. Credits to be deducted from school appropriation to determine net cost to town :
REIMBURSEMENT :- (claimed)
Teachers' Salaries
$32,326.92
Day Industrial School
(half cost of
10,152.40
Day Household Arts School
Tuition - Other Schools - half
instruction )
3,333.49 228.15
$46,040.96
123
TUITION :- (charged)
State Wards State Ward of New Hampshire
1,794.79
65.93
7,470.89
Day Industrial School High School - Agricultural Department
228.15
9,559.76
MISCELLANEOUS CASH RECEIPTS :-
Day Industrial School Sales:
Auto Repairs
$229.48
Cabinetmaking
138.78
Printing
340.05
Sheet Metal
282.93
Supplies
31.74
1,022.98
Sale of Supplies, Old Books, etc.
82.76
Fines, Refunds, etc.
56.89
1,162.63
TOTAL
$56,763.35
12. Funds available for Vocational Departments :
GEORGE - DEEN FUND :-
Day Household Arts School
37.00
Day Industrial School
5,193.75
5,230.75
SMITH - HUGHES FUND :-
Day Household Arts School
385.65
Day Industrial School
923.09
1,308.74
TOTAL
$ 6,539.49
The enrollment figures show a mixed trend. In the lower grades there is a gradual shrinkage, while in the upper grades the increase continues. How long this condition will exist, no one knows. A sim- ilar situation all over the country is a matter of comment. In five years the number in the elementary grades has decreased by 167; the High School, however, shows a gain in enrollment of 220. This makes a net gain of 53 for the June periods. It is interesting to note that there are more pupils in the High School than in Grades I, II, III, and IV, combined.
Two years ago a law was passed making it obligatory for a town to have Italian taught in the high school, provided 25 parents petitioned the School Committee, and 25 or more students signified their intention of taking the subject.
A petition was presented by the Loggia Giuseppe Verdi No. 278, Sons of Italy Grand Lodge, together with the names of students who presumably would take a course in Italian. The Committee voted to have Miss Anita Petrucci start a class in beginners' Italian. The enrollment was 33, but within two weeks the number dropped to 16. At the close of five weeks there were only 11 attending, four of these having been on the original list. The class was discontinued on October 23.
124
It is a pleasure at this time to express my appreciation for the wonderful work of the Athletic Council. Looking back over the years, I remember the difficulty of financing the various sports. It was always a question of money, and more money. The children were called upon to furnish funds which they could ill afford. Dur- ing the time since the Athletic Council has assisted, the financial status has been very good. It has been possible to give members of the football, baseball, basketball, track, and wrestling teams the equip- ment which they needed. In fact, one of the coaches told me recently that our teams were as well or better equipped than any of those with whom the boys came in contact. This work of the Council, started by Mr. Albert Vinal, and continued under Mr. Raymond Stein, the present head of the organization, should receive the appreciation and support of the townspeople. At the annual banquet held on Decem- ber 13, primarily for the football team, 18 sweaters were presented letter men football players of the senior class; and two, for track. During the year 17 additional sweaters had been presented to con- testants in other sports. The Oscar Horton Trophy, for excellence in sportsmanship, athletics, and school work, was presented to Alan W. Sampson, of the High School; and the Anonymous Trophy for the most improvement during the football season, to Parker W. Bates, of the Vocational School.
The record of games, etc., is as follows :
Won
Tied
Lost
Football
7
I
2
Baseball
7
3
Basketball
8
8
Wrestling
9
I
Track - Indoor Teams
Relay
I
I
Varsity
I
I
Spring Team
5
3
Junior Team
Won Hingham Meet
Cross Country Team
3
6
125
In Memoriam
MARY BENTLEY THOMAS Teacher 1923 - 1939
"Beloved by all, unselfish to the end, She sought to make humanity her friend."
125
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING FORCE
RESIGNATIONS
John Adams School Athens School Bicknell School Center School
Jane Stub Josephine Sturtevant Marion MacWilliams Ruth Thompson
RETIRED
High School Hunt School
Hazel M. Agnew Grace A. Randall
APPOINTMENTS
High School High School Vocational School Athens School
Junior Annex Hunt School
Rose Silverman Mary M. Lambe, Assistant Clerk
James F. Boland
Dorothy Pearson
Rose Leonard (substitute)
Dorothy Vestburg
TRANSFERS
Pratt to John Adams Shaw Assistant to Pratt
Jefferson Assistant to Bicknell
Rita F. Donovan Kathryn J. Gaughen Edith M. Mulligan
The School Department has been very fortunate, in that there have been so few changes in the personnel. Four teachers resigned to be married; two retired under the provisions of the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement Act; and one died.
Miss Grace A. Randall came to the Lincoln School in 1903. I shall always remember her as I saw her first with Miss Katherine C. Keohan, the teacher who shared with her the work of the first two grades. She was a strong and conscientious teacher. Miss Randall will be missed by the many pupils she taught in the Hunt group, and by the parents whom she served so faithfully for thirty-six years.
Miss Hazel M. Agnew began her work in the Commercial De- partment of the High School in 1920. She taught her subject in an excellent manner. Her influence over the pupils under her charge was unusual and decidedly beneficial, not alone in the commercial studies, but in the broadening of their characters as well. Miss Agnew is missed in the High School. She has the good wishes of her associ- ates and pupils, and of the townspeople.
Owing to the shrinkage in the number of pupils in the lower grades, two assistant positions were abolished; and one room in the Center School was closed. One teacher was added to the teaching force in the Vocational School, to take care of the additional number of pupils who applied to take the work in sheet metal.
Two janitors retired this year under the provision of the Contrib- utory Retirement Act; namely, Mr. Henry Blanchard, of the Adams Schools; and Mr. Emil J. Olson, of the Bicknell School.
127
The reduction of $3,000.000 in the appropriation for maintenance and outlav made it impossible to place new toilets in the Old Pratt School. This work should be done during the coming year, at an estimated cost of $3,000.00. It presupposes the re-location of the toilets in the center of the building, with light and air from both sides. The old boiler room will have to be filled in and several par- titions removed to permit the work. If these changes are made, the toilets will be as good as any in town.
The fire in the Jefferson School on August 8 was an untoward circumstance. It was possible, however, to repair the damage to the building before September 1, without interference with the school pro- gram. From the findings of the insurance adjusters, it was evident that the fire was caused by a pile of rags which had been saturated with oil and used in repairing furniture. Although the material damage was com- paratively slight, the loss was heavy from damage by water and smoke to books, supplies, paint, and woodwork. The floors and ceilings were entirely replaced in two of the rooms and in the adjacent corridors. The woodwork and ceilings were painted throughout the building. This emergency developed further the fact that the tower containing the clock had become badly decayed. It was necessary to rebuild prac- tically the entire outside of the tower, and to re-decorate the clock. Stone steps were constructed, replacing the wooden ones which had been in poor condition for a long time. The insurance adjusters were very fair in their treatment. They allowed $3,515.00 on the building. and $920.00 on the contents, a total of $4,435.00.
The major items under maintenance and outlay which should be enumerated are :
The new stoker at the Shaw School
Re-tubing two boilers: one at the High School, and one at the Hunt School
Waterproofing and pointing of the outside walls of the hall at the Bicknell School; and replacement of the old wooden steps with permanent ones of cement
Waterproofing and pointing of the walls of the Junior Annex, together with the setting of the cap stones
Re-seating of two rooms in the High School; and the replacement of the old kalamein fire doors with new ones of our own con- struction
Installation of new gas service; and part of the expense of pitting the boiler room at the Edward B. Nevin School
Aside from these major repairs, there has been an increasing quantity of work necessary to keep in operation doors, windows, floors, and other wearing parts of buildings which are twenty or more years of age.
In the spring Miss Marguerite S. Clapp, of South Weymouth, presented to the High School Library a set of Encyclopedia Americana
128
in memory of her brother, David Capen Clapp. Acknowledgment was made by the School Committee.
In the closing days of the year a letter was received from Mr. Alfred C. Sheehy, Chairman of the Committee which had charge of the Ralph Talbot Memorial Exercises on October 31, 1936, stating that a sum of money could be used for some purpose connected with that event. He stated that the money would be made available, if an additional plaque commemorating Ralph Talbot and similar to one installed on the U. S. Destroyer Ralph Talbot could be placed in the High School hall. Additional money has been secured to complete the amount necessary to purchase the plaque, which is now ready and waiting to be installed at some appropriate time.
SCHOOL CENSUS (as of October 1, 1939)
5 to 7 years
7 to 14 vears
14 to 16 years
Total
BOYS
Ward I
73
1.02
121
596
[I
97
402
125
624
III
48
245
74
367
IV
51
255
68
374
V
59.
223
60
342
Total
328
1527
44.8
2303
GIRLS
Ward I
68
371
124
563
II
91
414
129
634
III
53
210
78
341
IV
37
253
78
368
V
43
196
67
306
Total
292
1444
476
2212
Grand Total
620
2971
924
4515
DISTRIBUTION OF ABOVE MINORS
Public Day School
406
2692
869
3967
Private Schools
105
267
48
420
Not enrolled in any school 109
8
5
122
Working
-
-
I
I
County and State Institutions
-
4
I
5
Total
620
2971
924
4515
129
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE (as of October 1, 1939)
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.